Match Preview: Liverpool vs Everton

Liverpool will be aiming to halt a run of poor form in the Premier League when they take on an Everton side preparing to celebrate David Moyes’ tenth anniversary as manager.

The Reds have achieved one of their ambitions for the season after lifting the Carling Cup last month to bring to an end a six-year trophy drought, while Kenny Dalglish insists progress is being made by the club as a whole.

However, a third straight league defeat at the weekend left Liverpool on 39 points from 27 games, with a paltry return of 30 goals, and captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that is ‘not good enough’.

Having been beaten by Manchester United, Arsenal and Sunderland, Dalglish’s men have slipped from top-four contenders to mid-table obscurity, just a couple of points ahead of their Merseyside rivals and a host of other clubs.

A return to Wembley in the FA Cup is very much within reach, ahead of a quarter-final against Stoke at the weekend, but for now they will be focusing on Tuesday’s derby and an opportunity to revive their fortunes ahead of the run-in.

Victory would leave Liverpool ten points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal and just about keep their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League alive, although that is something Everton will be very keen to prevent.

The Toffees have enjoyed a fine run of form over the past couple of months, moving through to the last eight of the FA Cup themselves and climbing to ninth in the league on the back of seven games unbeaten.

A 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday put Everton within striking distance of Liverpool and everyone at the club will be determined to provide Moyes with an early anniversary present.

The Scot took charge at Goodison Park on 14th March 2002, and the plaudits he has received for the job he has done over the past decade have been richly deserved.

Moyes is now desperate to push on even further and has targeted some silverware, but the immediate aim will be to secure local bragging rights.

Team news

Gerrard is set to return to the starting line-up for Liverpool after coming off the bench in the weekend defeat at Sunderland after recovering from a hamstring problem.

The likes of Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing could also be pushing for starts if Dalglish decides to freshen up his misfiring forward line.

Right-back Glen Johnson has missed the last two matches with a niggle but will be assessed again on Tuesday, while fellow defender Daniel Agger is still missing with a cracked rib.